transitio

Pronunciation

• IPA (Classical): [trãːˈsɪ.ti.oː]^[1]
• IPA (Ecclesiastical): [tranˈsit.t͡si.o]^[1]

Forms

trānsitiō f (genitive trānsitiōnis); third declension^[1]

Etymology

It is from trānseō “to go across” with the suffix -tiō.^[2][1][3]

Earliest recorded meaning

Köbler's first source is the Rhetorica ad Herennium, which he dates 86/82 BC; it uses it of passing from one theme to another.^[4][2]

Semantic evolution

It meant a going across, passage, as in Cicero, and in Livy crossing over to the enemy, desertion.^[2] In rhetoric it was the transition from one theme to another.^[2] Vitruvius uses it of the sun's passage into another sign.^[5]

British Medieval Latin used it for crossing, passage, and with animae for the transmigration of the soul.^[6] It gave English transition in the mid-15th century, first in grammar.^[3]

Timeline

• 86/82 BC – The Rhetorica ad Herennium uses it.^[4][2]
• 81–43 BC – Cicero uses it of passage.^[2][4]
• 59 BC–17 AD – Livy uses it of desertion.^[2][4]
• mid-15th century – English transition is recorded.^[3]

Meanings

Noun

1. A going across, passage.^[2]
2. Desertion (to the enemy).^[2]
3. (rhetoric) A transition.^[2]

Related words

• abitiō
• ambitiō
• circumitiō
• cōitiō
• interitiō
• praeteritiō
• prōditiō
• rēditiō
• sēditiō
• trānseō
• trānsitus
• English transition

References

1. ^ a b c d Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j Glare, P. G. W., ed. (2012), Oxford Latin Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press
3. ^ a b c Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
4. ^ a b c d Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
5. ^ Lewis, Charlton T.; Short, Charles (1879), A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press
6. ^ Latham, R. E., D. R. Howlett, R. K. Ashdowne, et al. (1975–2013), Dictionary of Medieval Latin from British Sources, London: British Academy / Oxford University Press